Zanskar valley | 56 Photos

The hamlet of Rangdum brings with it some signs of life. These are the Himalayan horses walking on the banks of the Suru river. Randum is the southernmost tip of the Suru valley, the valley that separates Kargil from Zanskar, the most remote valley in India.

This is a typical stone houses found in the Zanskar and Ladakh regions. Built with flat stones stacked on top of each other, they are then coated with a layer which is a mixture of local mud, cattle dung and other things.

Rangdum is midway between Kargil and Padum, the headquarters of Zanskar valley. Travelers often halt for the night at Rangdum on their way to Zanskar. Some houses operate homestays and guest houses for these travelers.

Rangdum is midway on the 250km route from Kargil to Padum, headquarter of the remote Zanskar valley. A convenient halt on this long route, it is a tiny hamlet of ten houses and a couple of food stalls and guesthouses. Its geographic location makes it, essentially, the definition of "in the middle of nowhere".

We saw the Drang Drung glacier after crossing the highest point at 4200 meters, of Penzi la, the only mountain pass en route Zanskar. It was an enormous glacier, melting in full flow at the peak of summer. Read more about Mountain passes we crossed in the Himalayas.

Joys of a simple life; these girls are trying to run away from another one (with the back to the camera) splashing water on them. This is in a small village called Sani in the Zanskar valley. Read more about the Simple life in Sani.

Religion and prayers, as a way of life, was unmissable. Prayer beads and Mani wheels were ubiquitous. Living in the midst of such harsh nature, it was not really surprising! Read more about the Simple life in Sani.

This was our homestay in Sani. It was the house of the only shopkeeper in the entire Sani village. She was the daughter of the house and in charge of the kitchen responsibilities. She even gave us some impromptu cooking lessons. Read more on Simple life of Sani.

Religion and prayers, as a way of life, was unmissable. Prayer beads and Mani wheels were ubiquitous. Living in the midst of such harsh nature, it was not really surprising! Read more on Simple life of Sani.

This board is bang opposite a petrol pump (gas station). A single hand cranked fuel dispenser is operated by a lone employee there. This petrol pump caters to the fueling needs of around 14000 people - the population of the entire Zanskar valley! Which makes this solitary pump the one and only means for the people of Zanskar to be connected to the world beyond their valley.

This is a typical landscape in Zanskar - brown barren mountains of the Greater Himalayas, white stone houses and patches of fields around the villages being the only greenery. We crossed this village on our way to the Phuktal monastery. Read full stories on Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. The green fields are a rare sign of civilisation in the sparsely populated interiors of this Zanskar valley. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

The Phuktal monastery is the epitome of monks living high up in the mountains, detached from the rest of the world. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

The Phuktal monastery is the epitome of monks living high up in the mountains, detached from the rest of the world. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Chang, made from fermented barley is the most famous drink in Zanskar. Arhak is a distilled form of Chang. The family where we spent the night en route Phuktal monastery, had Arhak making scheduled for the day. That evening we had some fresh homemade Arhak post dinner! Read full story on Trek to Phuktal Monastery

It's a tiny village. No shop. No school. Be prepared to have only locally grown vegetables. (And some home brewed alcohol). We stayed here overnight on our way to Phuktal monastery. Read full story on Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Zanskar is probably the most isolated valley in India and Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

After the long, breath taking (as well as breathless making) walk up at around 4200 meters in the Phuktal valley, the sight of the Phuktal monastery was, more than anything, relieving! Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

After the long, breath taking (as well as breathless making) walk up at around 4200 meters in the Phuktal valley, the sight of the Phuktal monastery was, more than anything, relieving! Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

After the long, breath taking (as well as breathless making) walk up at around 4200 meters in the Phuktal valley, the sight of the Phuktal monastery was, more than anything, relieving! Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

After the long, breath taking (as well as breathless making) walk up at around 4200 meters in the Phuktal valley, the sight of the Phuktal monastery was, more than anything, relieving! Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Zanskar is probably the most isolated valley in India and Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. The Phuktal monastery is the epitome of monks living high up in the mountains, detached from the rest of the world. Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery.

It was break time at the monastery for these youngsters. Their energy was un-missable. Take their maroon robes away, dress them up in clothes for “young adults” and they could pass off as school children in a playground..
Except, that, they WERE in their maroon robes, attended the monk school in the monastery, studied ancient scriptures and would go on to live their lives devoid of all worldly possessions!
Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

It was break time at the monastery for these youngsters. Their energy was un-missable. Take their maroon robes away, dress them up in clothes for “young adults” and they could pass off as school children in a playground..
Except, that, they WERE in their maroon robes, attended the monk school in the monastery, studied ancient scriptures and would go on to live their lives devoid of all worldly possessions!
Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

The Phuktal monastery is the epitome of monks living high up in the mountains, detached from the rest of the world. We reached the monastery at lunch time and this was the view for lunch!
Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

We reached the monastery at lunch time and had the same food as the monks. It was simple, mostly boiled, healthy food.
Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

The Phuktal monastery is the epitome of monks living high up in the mountains, detached from the rest of the world. We reached the monastery at lunch time and had lunch with the monks there. Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Zanskar is probably the most isolated valley in India and Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

These rocks are an important feature of Tibetan Buddhism. They are a work of art and reflect the colours of the mountains found in these regions. We found many of these around Phuktal monastery, the remotest monastery of Zanskar, hidden in a cave. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Zanskar is probably the most isolated valley in India and Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Zanskar is probably the most isolated valley in India and Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Zanskar is probably the most isolated valley in India and Phuktal is the remotest part of Zanskar. This was the landscape en route Phuktal monastery. Read the full story of our visitto Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

The cow dung cakes are left to dry for use as fuel in winter at a house in Anmu. Anmu is a village on the way to the Phuktal monastery just after the end of the motor-able road. While crossing through Anmu, a family invited us over for tea. Read the full story of our visit to Phuktal monastery at Trek to Phuktal Monastery

Pretty plants like this one decorate the window sills of most houses in Zanskar. We saw this at a house in a village called Anmu. Anmu is a village on the way to the Phuktal monastery just after the end of the motor-able road. While crossing through Anmu, a family invited us over for tea. We had some tea, home made bread and the most amazing yogurt. Read more stories of such warm hospitality at Friendly families from our travels in Himalayas

This device, part of every kitchen in Zanskar, is used to make the traditional yak butter tea. Anmu is a village on the way to the Phuktal monastery just after the end of the motor-able road. While crossing through Anmu, a family invited us over for tea. We had some tea, home made bread and the most amazing yogurt. Read more stories of such warm hospitality at Friendly families from our travels in Himalayas